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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Kat Von D has killed it in the makeup world lately, and almost every product I've tried, I've really liked. Her liquid lipsticks are cult favorites, but I haven't heard a whole lot about her Studded Kiss Lipstick. I purchased a Studded Kiss Lipstick in the infamous shade Lolita, and I have to say, I really, really like it!

Here is an overview of Kat Von D lipsticks from Sephora:

What it is:An innovative lipstick that coats lips with bold color, long-lasting wear, and luxe comfort.

What it does:
Drench your lips with bold color and unstoppable femininity. Designed to
look as rock ‘n roll as its wearer, this revolutionary, hybrid lipstick
is formulated with Color Cushion Technology™, which combines
lasting-wear, one-swipe payoff, and velvet-touch comfort. This
color-true lipstick leaves lips supple, and its wide color spectrum
offers stunning shades, including red for every skintone,
statement-making colors, and classic, everyday neutrals.
What else you need to know:
Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss Lipstick is infused with vitamins A, C, and E,
an antioxidant complex that leaves lips feeling soft, and the Crème
Brûlée scent provides a subtle, sweet experience when you apply it.
Designed by Kat to resemble one of her favorite bracelets, the black,
monochromatic casing is uniquely studded and topped with her KVD
monogram on the outer crown and bullet.

I absolutely adore the packaging of the Studded Kiss Lipsticks. For some reason, it makes me feel like a total bad-ass when applying this color. Don't ask me why, I'm just weird. Seriously, I expect nothing less than a rock n' roll feel from Kat Von D and it always translates into her makeup. The color I picked up called Lolita, is a super popular shade, especially in her liquid lipstick line. I don't own that one, so I can't compare that to this lipstick. Lolita is described as a matte dusty rose shade, and I completely agree. I feel like this shade makes my lips look like they have more color to them when I think they're looking a little more pale than usual. The matte formula is a tad bit drying, but when applied over top of a lip balm, all is good in the world. I have yet to try a gloss on top of this, only because I really love the color by itself. I don't think I've ever owned a lipstick that I feel I can wear on its own and be completely happy with it, and with this one, I'm always happy. I love the look of the packaging, the feel of it going on the lips, and the scent is heavenly. The lasting power isn't bad. If I'm not eating or drinking anything, I get about 3 or so hours of wear before I notice any fading. It does transfer unlike her liquid lipsticks (or any liquid lipstick for that matter), but I didn't expect it to stay put all day. Overall, this is a fantastic lipstick, and I definitely want to try more from the line. The Studded Kiss Lipsticks retail for $21 at Sephora, and I think they're worth every penny. Have you tried these lipsticks before? What do you think of them?

Here is some info on the palette from Sephora:What it is:An eye palette from the Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection with 16
heart-shaped, cocoa powder-enriched eye shades in brights and neutrals.
What it does: This palette features matte and shimmer eye shades in cool pops of
color, brights, and beautiful neutrals. Each is infused with Too Faced’s
chocolate-scented, antioxidant-rich, cocoa powder formula. The third
palette in the bestselling Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection,
Chocolate Bon Bons includes a signature Glamour Guide with three beauty
looks to get you started. With 16 shades, including two cult favorite
hues, it’s perfect for limitless eye looks.

Chocolate Bon Bons comes with 6 matte shades and 10 shimmery shades, which is a nice range to me, in a metal case with a magnetic closure. All of the shadows are infused with cocoa powder, which does make it smell like chocolate. I have to say though, the scent is much less overpowering in this palette compared to the original Chocolate Bar and Semisweet palettes. With a primer, these shadows perform on the eyes very well, they blend easily and last all day. At first, I wasn't a massive fan of the color selection, but after using it and swatching all the colors, I totally fell in love.

Swatches in the second photo from top to bottom are:Almond TruffleSatin SheetsCashew ChewCotton CandyCafe Au LaitDark TrufflePecan PralineTotally Fetch

Colors in the second photo from top to bottom are:SprinklesMolasses ChipMaltedBordeauxMochaBlack CurrantEarl GreyDivinityAlot of the colors blend into my skin a bit, but I did try to build them up as best as I could. I think this palette is fantastic honestly! It's got a great color range, and I can do a super neutral look, or do something more colorful. Cashew Chew is the perfect transition shade for me, Cafe Au Lait is a great lid shade that also makes for a great one-shadow look, Molasses Chip is probably the most beautiful shade out of this entire palette, and I love Bordeaux because I'm obsessed with burgundy shades, although this shade has a bit more brown in it. Overall, I think the Chocolate Bon Bons Palette is worth the $49 price tag, and I think this might be my favorite palette from the Chocolate Bar line. All of the shades swatched well for me, they look great on the eyes, and of course I love that it smells like chocolate. I purchased mine from Sephora, but it is also at Ulta and the Too Faced website. Have you tried this palette?

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

*Disclosure* Products featured were provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hey guys! I was able to try out the Pur HydraFluid Foundation, and I have a few opinions on it.

Here is some info on the product from the Pur website:

PÜR’s encapsulated water complex delivers Swiss Alps-sourced water to
hydrate the skin for lasting radiance while providing silky, medium
coverage. HydraFluid water serum foundation is incomparably lightweight
yet offers the perfect amount of coverage and satisfies the desire for
dewy, breathable, luminous looking skin. This is the chosen foundation
to create “bare-looking” but perfect complexion whatever your skin tone
or type. Water sourced from the Swiss Alps is known for its high purity
and is the ideal mineral water to refresh skin.

Pur is cruelty free, each of these foundations cost $39, and there are 5 shades in the line: Light, Medium, Tan, Dark and Deep.

Alright, my only real gripe is the color selection. I have a hard time finding foundations that are good for my really fair, cool toned skin. The lightest shade here is noticeably darker than my natural, pale as heck skin. Somehow, I was able to make it work by blending it in really well with a Beauty Blender and setting with a translucent powder. Throughout the day though, it did oxidize on me, and my husband even asked what was wrong with my face.

Despite the bad color selection, this foundation is actually pretty nice. It did end up blending well, lasted about 4-5 hours before I noticed my skin become shiny, and it feels super lightweight, which will make it perfect for the hot Summer weather. You have to shake it up really well before you use it, since it is very liquid-y. I could see this foundation being a go-to if I had the correct shade. Pur, if somehow you're reading this, please come out with a Fair shade! I, and many other pale girls, will be immensely grateful! Overall, I really feel this is a nice foundation for a variety of skin types. I'm oily, so I do have to set with powder, but I think dry skinned people will really enjoy this. If you have a skin tone that would work with this foundation, I'm jealous.What do you think about this foundation?

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Hey guys! Today I'm going to be reviewing the City Color Trio I received in my Ipsy bag last month called Falling Leaves. I thought the colors were really pretty, and I was excited to see how the shadows worked for me.

Here is just a little info of the product from Ipsy:City Color Eyeshadow Trio features three complimentary shades in one
travel-friendly palette. Trio includes neutral shades in matte burnt
orange, metallic bronze and champagne highlight.

There are only two trios, and the City Color website says that there are limited quantities and only available to subscribers of the Ipsy Glam Bag for January 2016. I find that a little odd, and I haven't tried ordering the other one, which is called Blooming Flowers. Anyway, I think the colors are really beautiful. Looking at them in the package, they really do remind me of the Fall, which threw me off considering we're heading into Spring. The burnt orange and champagne shade are pretty warm-toned, and I feel the bronze shade is pretty neutral. They compliment each other, so that made my OCD happy.

I did a very simple look where I first took the burnt orange shade and blended that all through my crease. I then took the champagne shade and placed that on the inner half of my eye, then used the bronze shade on the outer half of my eye. The shadows go on nicely and blend well, and the look was nice and simple to do. I feel like the colors aren't that pigmented though.

The initial swatches were fairly impressive but a little patchy, and on the eye they look nice as well. After just a few hours though, they faded like crazy and it barely looked like I had eyeshadow on. For $5.99, I feel like these are an okay product, but I would never buy one for myself. The colors are beautiful, but that's where it stops for me. I'll probably get a little use out of this trio, but I don't see myself reaching for it often.

Be sure to subscribe to Ipsy for $10 a month, plus shipping for some, if you want to receive 4-5 beauty products in a cute makeup bag every month!

Friday, February 19, 2016

*Disclosure* Products featured were provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hey guys! Today I have a pretty exciting review for you. I was contacted by the lovely Khara of Serious Lip Balm, and was asked if I wanted to try out some of their lip balms. If you're a reader of Skin Stuff by Katy, you know I can never have too many lip balms. I have a stash that will probably last me for the next 10 years (no, seriously, I really do). I can always use more though, and I'm always on the hunt for a good one! This Winter season has been horrible on my lips, so these came at a good time.

Serious Lip Balm came about after Khara started making lip balms for her friends and family that was free of all the chemicals and icky stuff that are in many products today. She started to get her friend Megan involved as the business continued to grow, and went on to selling these lip balms in a coffee shop, then went on to sell on Etsy, and now they're doing wholesale and vendor fairs! I always love when a passion comes together and becomes something incredibly fulfilling.

Onto the review of these balms! I was kindly sent Snickerdoodle, Peppermint, and Burnt Sugar. Guys, if I could have you sniff these through the computer screen, You'd probably fall in love just by the scent alone. I am OBSESSED with how these smell, especially Snickerdoodle. I had my husband smell that one, and he almost stole it from me. Peppermint is very fresh and tingly, and then there's Burnt Sugar. That scent, to me, is Fall in a lip balm. It smells so warm and cozy, and I could probably slather it on my lips all day long.

The lip balms are made with Beeswax, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Lanolin, and of course the flavor oil. There is nothing bad in here at all and my lips have improved since I started using these. They're super hydrating, and they make an awesome base for liquid lipsticks. The hydration lasts a good while too, so you're not constantly having to reapply. Unless you're crazy like I am, and just apply to get a whiff of the scent ;)

It's safe to say I'm super impressed with these Serious Lip Balms. They sell a 3-pack where you can choose your own flavor, or they have sets already made up that make perfect gifts. Pricing starts at $8, which is sometimes at least what I've paid for just one lip balm in the past. They also sell wholesale bundles as well, which are incredible deals. I know once I go through my stash of lip balms, I'll be placing an order!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Hi guys! I finally received my Ipsy bag in the mail yesterday. I swear, shipping takes longer and longer every month, and it's getting a bit annoying. Anyway, the theme this month is Pretty In #IpsyPink.

The bag itself is kinda cute, but not really my style. The front is textured and has an emoji style envelope on the front, and just plain hot pink on the back. The products I received, I'm half and half about. The first product I received is a Luxie Beauty Small Tapered Blending Brush 231. This brush is the perfect size for my hooded lids with applying color where I need it. I don't have a blending brush quite this small in my collection, so I'm pretty stoked to have one now. I've gotten Luxie brushes in past Ipsy bags, and the quality is pretty impressive. Next up is a deluxe sample of the new Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. First of all, the scent of this is amazing, and smells like lavender. What I'm not quite sure about is using it as an actual primer. I typically have oily skin, so using an oil as a primer just won't work for me. What I'll most likely do is use a little bit mixed into my foundation. That trick helps my foundations go on better and makes it look less cakey. Then we have the MOR Emporium Classics Hand & Body Lotion in the scent Candied Vanilla. I've never heard of this brand before in my life, but when I opened this, the scent was just incredible! It smells so warm and lovely, and I'll probably strictly use this as a hand cream. I'm not wasting this goodness on my body.Next is the VINTAGE by Jessica Leibeskind Sparkling Lipgloss in Pink Sequin. Not a fan of this honestly. If it were just a pink color without sparkle, I'd be happy. I'm 27 years old, so sparkly lips are a thing of the past and for me, there is just way too much sparkle. It's a little sticky, but not terrible. The last product I received is by Tre'StiQue, and it's their Baby Blush Stick in the shade Bora Bora Coral. I'm a huge fan of Tre'StiQue products and have gotten quite a few in previous Ipsy bags. However, with my oily skin, I'm not a fan of cream blushes. I do really like the color of this, so I'll give it a try, but I don't have high expectations.

I'm super excited about this! I managed to save up 1,500 points and cashed them in for the Colourpop Forever Freshman Super Shock Shadow set. I have just a few Colourpop products, so I was really excited to be able to get this. The shades included are Crimper, As If, Melrose, Koosh, 90210, and Baby T. I'm honestly not sure if you can get this on the Colourpop website anymore, but I've heard some amazing things about the shade Koosh, and I can't wait to play with it!So overall, like I said above, I half like my bag, and half is just meh. There are months that are amazing, some are not so amazing, and then some are just alright, like this month. If you want to get your own Ipsy bag, I'd love it if you used my referral link here! It costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 5 beauty products sent to you every month, and when you review the products sent, you earn points that you can redeem for more products! It's a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. If you're already subscribed to Ipsy, what did you get this month?

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Hey guys. Today's post is going to be a little bit different than the usual beauty talk I do here. I've been wanting to incorporate more lifestyle posts on here, just not as frequent as beauty. So, here we go.

Valentine's Day was just a couple days ago, and I actually got to spend the entire day with my husband. He originally had obligations for school, but they got cancelled last minute. I was really happy about that, because today, February 16th, 2016, would have been my due date. I've touched on having a miscarriage in a post or two a while back, and it feels like forever ago, but the time also seemed to have gone by pretty fast. My husband and I had been talking about whether we wanted to do something to remember the son we would have had, so we decided to celebrate on Valentine's Day. We bought cake mix and baked a cake to celebrate his birthday.

I'm so not a cake decorator, and as far as I can remember, I've never written anything with icing before, so excuse that. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that we did something to remember our son. I had my miscarriage back in July, and had to have a D&C in August. The past 7 months have honestly been the hardest months of my entire life. I think everyday about what life would be like had our son survived, what he would've looked like, and how quirky his personality would be. My husband and I are self proclaimed weirdos, so our kid would've been weird too. But we would encourage him to do whatever he wanted. If he wanted to play with mommy's makeup, fine. If wanted to be like his daddy and play video games and watch Game Grumps on YouTube, that's fine too.

I know making a cake, or even just celebrating what would've been the birth of our child, seems weird to alot of people, but you know what? I don't give a crap. I see so many women getting pregnant and being able to have their babies, never knowing what it's like losing their child. Some are great mothers, then there are the ones who take their child for granted. I admit, it makes me so jealous. They moan and complain about how bad their child is being, how hard it is being pregnant, and some just downright abuse their kids. They have no idea how lucky they are. I'd give anything to be able to hold my child, stay up all night to feed and calm him down, and have him be a little hell raiser. If I'm ever lucky enough to be able to have more children in the future, I welcome morning sickness, sore boobs, and being hungry all the time with open arms.

Until then, I'll always remember our first baby, and continue talking about him whenever I want. I so wish that miscarriage and pregnancy loss wasn't such a taboo subject. As common as it is, it's one of the loneliest things to go through, not being able to talk to people about it, because it makes them uncomfortable. It can be very uncomfortable to talk about at times, but if I can be there for the girl going through a miscarriage, who has no one to talk to because no one wants to talk, then my mission in life is done.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

*Disclosure* These products were sent to me thanks to Shiseido. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always! Some links below are affiliate links.

Hello everyone! A little while ago, I was very kindly sent a little kit of Shiseido products that included a cleanser, concentrate and moisturizer. I got the chance to also try out their Ibuki Multi Solution Gel, which I reviewed here, and loved so much. Now that I've tried this out for a bit, I'm ready to share my thoughts.

What it is:An ultragentle cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin’s essential moisture.

What it is formulated to do:This extra gentle, highly
effective cleanser removes impurities and harmful excess sebum without
stripping away skin’s essential moisture. It quickly lathers into a rich
foam, and leaves skin feeling refreshed and silky-smooth to the touch. This cleanser is freaking fantastic, to put it bluntly. It definitely lathers up into a thick, rich foam, and the tiniest bit goes a very long way. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, without feeling parched. I don't know what they put in this that makes it clean so well, but this has to be one of the best cleansers I've tried. Shiseido is known for having strong scents to their products, which I'm not a huge fan of, but this works incredibly well at cleaning, that I can get past it. The full 4.5 ounce size costs $30.Here is some info on the Softening Concentrate: What it is:A deep-infusion formula that delivers powerful ingredients into the skin for a softer, smoother feel.
What it is formulated to do:By supplying skin with generous moisture, this deep-infusion formula
helps deliver the most effective ingredients into the skin for an
immediate soft, smooth feel. It also enhances the benefits of other skin
care products while creating an even palette for cosmetics.

When I first went to use this, I had no idea if it was a toner or a serum. I realized after I applied it to a cotton pad that it was too thick to be a toner, so I put some on my hands, and applied it as a serum. That worked much better, and sunk into my skin nicely. I feel like it helps my skin feel more hydrated, and it's great when paired with the following moisturizer and under makeup. Again, this also has a very strong, almost floral-y scent. There are two different sized bottles you can buy. The 2.5 ounce is $24, and the 5 ounce it $38

What it is:A multiaction formula that instantly corrects the
appearance of unevenness from visible pores, breakouts, blemish marks,
and skin roughness.

What it is formulated to do:This
refining moisturizer renews the appearance of the skin’s surface,
creating an incredibly smooth, uniform texture, while keeping skin
hydrated all day long. Red and gold soft reflecting powder particles
give the complexion an instant luminosity for a healthy glow. This moisturizer feels very lightweight at first, but packs a punch in hydration. I don't really notice a difference with my pores, but I feel like using this trio together, it helps to smooth out my skin, making it look more even. The scent is strong as usual, but it dissipates quickly. The full 2.5 ounce size is $45. While I'm enjoying using this trio, I can't help but notice on the ingredient lists that there is some form of drying alcohol in each of these products. I haven't had any adverse reactions to using these products at all, but I've been trying to steer clear of the alcohols that are really drying, and just bad for your skin in general. With that being said, I know I wouldn't repurchase the Softening Concentrate or the Refining Moisturizer, but the Gentle Cleanser is pretty fantastic, so I might consider splurging. It just cleans so well, yet doesn't make my skin feel tight. What do you think of these Shiseido products?

Friday, February 12, 2016

Hi guys, and happy Friday! I'm sure you all know that Valentine's Day is only two days away. I'm honestly not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, and my husband and I don't do anything special. Why take a certain day to say "I Love You" when you can just say it everyday?! Anyway, this year, like every other year my husband and I have been together, we won't see each other most of the day. He has obligations for school, so that means I get to sit on the couch, by myself, possibly eating some chocolate and watching YouTube.... Ok, that will most definitely happen. I was playing around with makeup the other day and if you read this post here, you know I'm trying hard this year to pan theBalm's Nude'tude Palette. I decided to use it, and lo and behold, I really love how the look turned out and thought it would be perfect for a Valentine's date, or if you're like me, a date with my couch ;)

Shadows used from the Nude'tude palette:

- Sultry: as a transition through the crease- Sexy: all over lid shade and blended on lower lashline.- Silly: outer third of the lid and blended through the crease a bit- Sassy & Stand-offish: Combined the two as a brow bone highlight and to blend out harsh lines.

You have my husband to thank for the pictures here because I took probably close to 20 different pictures, and couldn't choose which ones I liked. Bless his heart, he helped me, and I think he did pretty good! The rest of my face is really easy too. I only have a bit of concealer under my eyes, around my nose and on my chin, powder to set the concealer, a rosy pink blush on the cheeks, and very natural lips. To finish the eyes, I tightlined both the upper and lower inner rims with a black eyeliner and then applied two generous coats of mascara. I wanted the eyes to be the main focus which is why I kept the rest of the look as simple as I could. This is pretty dramatic for me since I very rarely wear eyeliner, and I never put eyeshadow on my lower lashline. Otherwise, I think it turned out nicely!

Thursday, February 11, 2016

*Disclosure* I received this product for review thanks to BrandBacker. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always. First link is an affiliate link

Hi everyone! You all know my love for skincare is strong, and I had the chance to try out the Oz Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser. I was excited to try this because I've gotten to try the brand in the past, and have been impressed.

Here is some info on the product from Amazon:

- CRUELTY FREE formula does not contain alcohol, parabens or sulfates and is safe for all skin types

- MADE IN THE USA in a state of the art FDA registered facility - OZ Naturals formulates the most effective anti aging skin care products on the market

- NATURAL & ORGANIC facial cleanser is considered to be the highest quality skin cleanser on the market.

Since trying out this cleanser, I can say that I like it, but I'm not in love with it right now. It's a gel based formula that foams up pretty nicely, and with the way my skin is at the moment, it's a bit drying. Normally, I have very oily skin, but with the weather being so fussy, it's making my skin fussy as well. It's dry one day, and oily the next. I love how this cleanser smells very lightly of roses, and I also like that it does a good job of cleaning my skin. I don't recommend this for makeup removal as it didn't do much in that department. It also burned my eyes, and I like to use a cleanser on my eyes to remove makeup. Regardless of the eye burning, this is a otherwise a gentle cleaner and is good for sensitive skin. I personally am going to save this cleanser for morning use, when the weather gets warmer and my skin is way more oily. If you have very dry skin, you may not like it, but everyone's skin is different!

Overall, I would recommend this cleanser if you have oily, or combination/oily skin. It is effective at cleansing and it smells surprisingly nice. It's not that expensive either, just $22.49 for a 4 ounce squeeze bottle on Amazon. You also only need a small amount to get the job done, only about the size of a dime.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Hey guys! I have been really thinking about doing a pan that palette challenge for myself for quite a while now. I've been reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos of people doing project pan challenges, and I was finally inspired by a very lovely girl on YouTube named Jacquelyn and her channel is called FortWorthFamous. She does all kinds of beauty videos, but her panning videos are pretty neat. I've only been subscribed to her for under a week, but I've been watching her videos like crazy lately! She's the one who made me have an ah-ha! moment in realizing that I have so much makeup that hardly gets used.

I've also realized that my palette collection is pretty outta control, and I have yet to hit pan on any shade in every palette I own. I've decided it's time for me to challenge myself and see if I can totally use up an entire palette. I was going through my collection thinking of which one I wanted to pan, and thought that I wasn't going to be able to do it because I love so many different palettes and would be sad to completely use one up.

That's until I saw my theBalm Nude'tude Palette hiding underneath my loved palettes. I've ranted in a past post of how disappointed I was with Hautelook, where I purchased this palette, and that when I got this in the mail, it had already looked used to me with fingerprints. I was immediately put off, but sanitized it, and decided to try it out. I honestly wasn't impressed and have probably only used this palette under 5 times. If I used this up completely, I wouldn't miss it. The mirror is also broken as you can see, so I want it gone asap. I'm setting out the intention to pan this palette completely in 2016.

I have no idea how long it will actually take me to completely use this up, but if I can use it up by the end of the year, I'll be happy. I will continue to use different palettes for review purposes (I have quite a few I still need to do reviews on), but this is the palette I want to continuously reach for. I will still be doing my monthly empties posts because I use up different products every month, and every month is always different in the amount I'm able to finish.

I also want to do updates on how I'm doing with my Pan That Palette challenge, so I'll be posting close-up pictures, like the ones right above here, every month on the progress I've made. Since we're already almost half way through February, I probably won't do an update until the beginning of April. The pictures shown above are what the shadows look like as of right now. Wish me luck!

Have you ever done any kind of project pan chellenges? Let me know! I'd love advice or words of encouragement!

Monday, February 8, 2016

*Disclosure* I received product mentioned courtesy of Covergirl and Influenster. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

According to their website, Covergirl says:

Treat your lips with colorlicious oh sugar! Vitamin infused lip balm.
With the help of grapeseed oil, avocado butter, and Vitamins C & E,
it's only natural that this delicious smelling lip treatment leaves your
lips soft and nourished with a hint of sheer color. Protect and repair
lips with any of the 10 scented shades.

Each of these balms cost $7.99, but may vary depending on where you purchase.

I received the shade 4 Taffy, and for me, it's pretty much my perfect my lips, but better shade. I would describe it as a pink-y mauve shade. I love how it applies; it's very lightweight and comfortable on the lips. The scent reminds me of Fruity Pebbles, and I'm sure not complaining about that! I love fruity scents, and if I'm being bold here, this product definitely reminds me of the Fresh lip balms that cost over $20. This feels almost identical to the ones I've tried with it being so smooth and hydrating. I'm honestly impressed.

It is pretty sheer as you can see, and I did three swipes in the picture above. I personally am a big fan of these, and the color selection they have is pretty nice too. I'm very tempted to buy different colors, but I'm on a no-buy right now, and to be honest, I really don't need anymore lip products. I feel these are a great product, especially since they remind me of the Fresh lip balms. The only difference I can tell is these do not have an SPF in them. Otherwise, the texture and feel are nearly the same. Lasting power isn't that great, but it is a balm, not a lipstick. For the price point, I'd say pick up some if you've been wanting to try the Fresh balms, but don't like their price tag!Have you tried the CovergirlOh Sugar! Balms yet? what do you think of them?

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Hi guys! Do you have wavy, curly or kinky hair? I think I may have found some products that could help with that in the Pure Naturals line from the brand Jamaican Mango & Lime!Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Coconut Milk & Honey Shampoo- Coconut Milk & Honey is used to keep hair thick and strong with a healthy shine. It's formulated with all-natural ingredients to nourish and protect hair and scalp, and is Paraben, Mineral Oil and Sulfate-free.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler- This cream-based, dual action, deep penetrating conditioner is made with all natural ingredients to give hair silkiness and shine, prevent and repair split ends, eliminate frizz and protect color.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Coconut Moisturizing Hair Lotion- This hair lotion was especially developed to increase natural hair’s resistance to breakage; keep hair healthy, shiny and thick and encourage regrowth. It is made with all-natural ingredients and is great for all natural hair types and textures. Contains no artificial colors, and can be applied on wet or dry hair.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Coconut Conditioning Mist- This light, airy Conditioning Mist conditions, moisturizes and hydrates hair for shine and curl control. Can be used on all hair types and textures as a finishing spray and to protect natural hair from heat styling.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Shea Oil Styling Serum- This product combines Shea Butter, known for its healing and moisturizing qualities, with other natural ingredients for ultra moisturization, hydration and conditioning of natural hair. This unique, light-weight styling serum combats dry dull hair and protects against split ends and frizz, providing a brilliant shine and is perfect for multi-styling.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Coconut Butter Crème- This contains all natural ingredients, it locks in moisture, detangles, defines coils and curls and eliminates frizz.Pure Naturals with SmoothMoisture™ Coconut Milk & Honey Masque- Coconut Milk and Honey work together in this unique formulation of all-natural ingredients to provide intense moisturization, soothe hair fibers, repair split ends, control shine and frizz, add gloss and strengthen hair. This contains no artificial colors and is non-irritating.Whether you're a woman of color and need to keep your hair looking and feeling soft and smooth, have dry wavy hair like me that just needs more moisture to look nice, or you're like my husband who has a super curly and kinky afro that pretty much can't be tamed, I feel this line will be beneficial to you! All of the great ingredients such as coconut oil, hibiscus, mango, lime, and sorrel seed will definitely keep your hair looking and feeling soft, hydrated and manageable. You can find these products at www.jamaicanmangoandlime.com, or at your local beauty supply store!What do you think of these products?This Post brought to you by Jamaican Mango & Lime

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Hi guys! So we're already one month into the new year, and I made it my mission this year to use up as many products as I can to make a dent in my stash. January wasn't that great in using up much honestly, but I did manage to use up a few things!

I used up a good bit of skincare last month, and of course it wouldn't be an empties if I didn't have The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. You all know my obsession with this toner, so I won't ramble. It's just awesome.

I have finally used up the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel. I only used this at night, and it took me an incredibly long time to use up, since you only need one pump for your entire face and neck. I loved this product to help keep my pores clear. Salicylic Acid works wonders on my skin, and I'm pretty sure I have a backup of this. I have other products I want to use up first though before I open a new one.

I used up a one time use sample of the Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Mask, and it didn't really impress me. I'm not sure how well eye masks in general work, but the only thing this did for my under-eyes is keep them hydrated. They didn't look energized or brightened in any way, so I doubt I'd buy these.

I got a deluxe sized sample of the Purlisse Pur Delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser in a previous Ipsy bag. To me, this is just a basic creamy cleanser that did remove makeup fairly well, but it seemed to dry out my skin a little bit, even though the packaging says this is non-drying. My skin has been very finicky so far this Winter, and it doesn't know whether it wants to be dry, oily, or combination. Finding products that help balance it out has been a bit difficult lately.

I've heard many people say they love the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, and as I was cleaning out my sample box, I came across some samples of this cleansing oil. I gave it a go one night on a full face of makeup, and at first I wasn't sure it was doing anything. Once I started rinsing it off, every bit of makeup was completely gone. I had three coats of mascara and a good layer of foundation on that this completely took care of. It's amazing, and I'll be sad once all the samples are gone. I may purchase a full size in the future, but I'm on a strict no-buy at the moment and I have tons of cleansing oils in my stash to use up.

I had a little baby sample of the Dermalogica Total Eye Care with SPF 15 hiding in my stash that was mostly used up, so I finished it off last month. I forgot how much I loved this. It has a bit of a tint to it that actually seemed to help my dark circles, and it's pretty hydrating without being greasy. Dermalogica is a pretty expensive brand, so I'm not sure if I'll repurchase, but once I go through my stash of eye creams, I'd consider it.

These are the last of the products I used up, and it's a mix of hair care, body care and lip care. I'm one of those people who love Pantene shampoos and conditioners, and this Sheer Volume conditioner was pretty amazing. I'm not sure if it actually made my hair more volumized, but it made it so incredibly soft. This is just a small bottle I had in my stash, and the cap broke off when I dropped it one time, so I made a point to use it up quick.

I know I've mentioned before that I'm not the biggest fan of the Bath & Body Works Shower Gels. This is in the Coconut and Vanilla scent that I had purchased one year during a semi-annual sale. Believe it or not, I didn't actually mind this one. Most of their body washes dry my skin out and make it itch like crazy, but this seemed a little more hydrating than the others I've tried and it didn't make me itch. I seem to have a black hole in my closet where all my body washes are, and B&BW shower gels seem to keep popping up. I'm making it a point to use those up before I go on to something else.

I'm also making it my mission to use up as many foil packet samples as I can, so I decided to try out the DERMAdoctor KP Duty AHA Moisturizing Therapy for dry skin. This little packet was surprisingly enough for both of my arms, and I gotta say, after just the one use, I was in love. It smoothed out the backs of my arms, and pretty much got rid of those nasty chicken skin bumps that many people have. I'm tempted to break my no-buy for this, but since I'm trying to be good, I won't torture myself.

Lastly, we have some lip products! I've been trying to use up the Laura Geller Lip Strip scrub for well over a year. The tiniest bit goes a very long way, and I used this stuff pretty regularly about once or twice a week, but mainly in the colder months. This is very minty, and if you accidentally get some in your mouth, it's ok because it tastes like toothpaste, which I don't mind. This did help with dry skin on my lips, and left a bit of a moisturizing film that was pretty hydrating.

These On10 Lip Balms take so long to go through, and I used up the cider scent around the middle of January. I only really used this lip balm if I was going outside or running errands because it has an SPF of 15. If I'm staying inside the house all day, it doesn't matter what balm I use. I like these On10 lip balms though and this came in a set that my mom had gotten me for Christmas from Sephora quite a while ago.

Well, I used up 11 products. Not too shabby, but it's not great either. I'm hoping February is better!

Monday, February 1, 2016

Hi everyone! It's February now, and to be honest, I hope this month just flies by. Anyway, I have a few favorite products to share with you that have stood out to me whenever I use them.

The first product I have to talk about is the Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask. I've done a full review of this here, but I just have to say how amazing this mask is! After I use a detoxifying mask, I use a hydrating one, and this was my go-to. It looks like I'm spreading banana on my face, but it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft, plump and moisturized. There is a bit of a tingle that goes away after a few minutes, but it's not bothersome. If I'm being honest, I think this mask gives the Glamglow hydrating mask a run for its money. It does virtually the same thing, is a heck of alot cheaper, but the scents are different, which I feel the Glamglow wins on that. This one smells kinda strange, whereas the Glamglow smells like coconuts and the beach.

Next up is an old favorite, Covergirl 3-in-1 Foundation in the shade 805 Ivory. I know I put this in my November favorites, but guys, this foundation is truly amazing. I have yet to come across a drugstore foundation that is just as good as this one. The only downside at the moment is that this is the lightest shade available, and I'm so pale right now that it's just a hair too dark, but I make it work. This foundation just blends so nicely, provides a solid medium coverage, and lasts on my typically oily skin.

Another Covergirl product that has my attention is their Plumpify Mascara. I have a review of this here, and I feel that it makes my lashes look pretty darn good after just one coat. Once I start doing two coats is where I get a bit of clumping, but it's nothing a spoolie can't take care of. The brush is pretty massive, so it took a bit getting used to applying it, but once I got the hang of it, I feel like my lashes look longer and it keeps a curl all day.

Something that I've been meaning to put in my favorites for the last few months, but keep forgetting, is the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush. I don't think you can buy this separately, only in a set, but it's incredible! Now, I don't actually use this for applying foundation. Believe it or not, I hate using brushes for foundation. I use this brush to apply my face masks. Seriously, this is life changing for me! I think I saw someone on YouTube use a smaller foundation brush to apply a mask, and then it popped in my head that I had this brush that I never used before. So I used it, and found it applies the perfect amount to my skin without me using my fingers and wasting a whole bunch of product. I'm sure there are other brushes out there similar to this one, but I highly recommend buying the set this is in if you're curious about using it to apply face masks.

My last favorite is the Derma E Firming DMAE Eye Lift. I have a review here, and I've been loving what this does for the skin around my eyes. The longer I use this, the more I notice that my eyes just feel better. It's helped so much with the tiny dehydration lines I've been getting, my eyes look brighter and the skin feels alot softer. I don't have wrinkles around my eyes, but I honestly think this eye cream may help with them with continued use. If I can see results after using this, then I think you may too!

Those are my favorites for January! What products were you enjoying last month?